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Neural mechanisms of self-tickle cancellation in humans

Objective

In perception, neural responses are never identical, even to the same sensory stimuli. This variability is particularly evident in the somatosensory domain: why does the same tactile input feel ticklish when applied by others but not by ourselves? The phenomenon of self-tickle cancellation has intrigued philosophers, biologists, and psychologists for centuries. Motor control theories propose that self-generated movements elicit top-down predictions in the cerebellum that suppress bottom-up tactile input in the somatosensory cortex. However, how these top-down and bottom-up signals interact in the somatosensory cortex – and particularly across its different layers – to cancel self-tickle is unclear.
NeuroSelfTickle aims to unravel these complexities with advanced electroencephalography, psychophysical modelling and laminar magnetoencephalography. The project seeks to identify neural markers of tickle sensation, map layer-specific cortical activity in top-down and bottom-up signal integration, and apply these insights to understand the neurocognitive mechanisms of self-tickle cancellation.
This interdisciplinary approach combines well-established motor control theories with cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques and state-of-the-art haptic robotics, allowing for highly controlled yet naturalistic self-touch stimulation. The findings are expected to provide fundamental insights into how self-generated predictions influence neural computations and enhance our understanding of brain disorders where self-tickle cancellation fails, such as schizophrenia and autism.
NeuroSelfTickle will create a synergy between the applicant's expertise in somatosensory neural oscillations and excitability fluctuations, and the host lab's pioneering research on tickle perception and self-tickle cancellation. The Donders Institute, along with Dr. Kilteni's lab, will provide the necessary theoretical knowledge in sensorimotor control, as well as technical expertise and support in neuroimaging.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 232 916,16
Address
HOUTLAAN 4
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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